Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-21
DAILY HERALD.
MARTHA" "
ITS Rendition by the Natlohai
opera Company.

opera Company.
At late hour yesterday Afternoon
the programme for last night at the Ia
yilion had to be changed on account OF
sudden access of rheumatism to Theo
dora de Gilbert, the principal danseuse
As Delibe's opera of Coppelia is really
more ballet that opera, the mesdce"taT'
rendered O substitution imperative. VI
course many who had made up thei'
minds to see Coppetid stayed away
when they learned that the programme
had been changed; hence the poorest
house of the season enjoyed one
of the most delightful operatic enter
tainrnents ever given here. The
work selected was Flotow's Martha.
This charming musical.comedy was rem
dered in a style to afford the utmost
qualification. Pauline pAllemand in the
role of "Martha' rendered her dual
character in most exquisite style. The
music Of Martha is at once light, airy,
sweet and pathetic, and the dramatic
action Of the opera is so full OF exquisite
situations as to render it enjoyable, even
when presented by mediocrity. But
when rendered with marked clevernsss
by every character, and supplemented
with splendid scenic effects, as was the
case last night, the opera becomes
a succession of delight to the eye, the
ear and the Imagination. Mile. L'Alle.
mand fairly revelled in an abandon OF
delicious notes, and her singing OF tine
LAST Rose of Summer" the theme
that runs through the entire opera, was
a miracle of soft, melodious and pas
sionate vocalization. Miss Jessie Bart
lett Davis, as "Julia," threw sun.
niness into her role which was ebul.
hent in its effects. She has an excel.
lent voice, and rolled out her sweet
notes like the ripping rhythm OF cas-,
cade of laughing waters. we must
award to Mr.. Charles Bassett,
the "Lionel" of the piece,
a high need of praise for his
fine expression both in voice and act
ing. The timbre of his organ Is pure
In it's silvery sweetness, and has
touch OF what the French call tGrmes,
that vibrate with pathetic tenderness.
The entire opera passed off in the most
charming manner, and the ballet OF the
nations which succeeded was character
lied by graceful grou oings, poetic poses,
and delightful round OF pas seuIs by
the leading ladies of the corps. The
performance was well worthy OF full
mouse. which it would have assuredly
lad if its merits had been generally an
;icipated.
'NERoh TONIGHT.
Ruhenstein's opera Nero holds the
boards tonight. The rush for tickets
has been immense, and it will be so
again to-day. 1t is almost certain that
hut little seating capacity will be avalla.
BILE tonight, and it can only be reiterated
that good seats will be obtainable only
by those who apply early to-day at
Messrs. McLain L Lehman's. In Nero
nearly every prominent artist connected
with the National Opera Company takes
a part. 1t is claimed that. spectacularly,
musically and in scenic effec', this opera
is one OF the most satisfactory ever pro
0uced.
As Nero has been referred to so often
and that excitement runs to fever height
regarding it, it may here be stated that
it represents an episode in the licentious
time Of the most licentious Emperor Of
the Roman empire. The play has been
artstically treated, and the music is in
unison with the libretto. Some of the
scenes are of sensational character,
notably the burning of Rome, in which
the music is of highly descriptive char.
acter. The scenery is very realistic.
II ia so certain that no similar spectacle |
will again be produced in Los Angeles
for many years 10 come. that expectation
is running very high. and seats are ac.
cordinely being disposed of at such a
rate. that it is more than probable that
even standing room will be unattainable
tonight. Owing to the length of the
programme, the performance begins at
1880 sharp tonight.